UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 6, 2004 NICHOLAS FINANCIAL, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its Charter) British Columbia, Canada 0-26680 8736-3354 (State or Other Jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer Incorporation or Organization) File Number) Identification No.) 2454 McMullen Booth Road, Building C Clearwater, Florida 33759 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) (727) 726-0763 (Registrant's telephone number, Including area code) Not applicable (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) PAGE <1> Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibit # Description 1 Press release dated May 6, 2004, announcing earnings for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2004. Item 12. Results of operations and financial conditions The company announced net income for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2004 increased 24% to $1,491,772 as compared to $1,202,908 in the fourth quarter last year. Earnings per share increased 17% to $0.27 from $0.23. Revenue for the quarter increased 14% to $6,910,000 from $6,047,000. The company also announced for the year ended March 31, 2004, net income increased 22% to $5,212,678 as compared to $4,281,394 last year. Earnings per share increased 19% to $0.96 from $0.81. Revenue for the year increased 14% to $25,500,000 from $22,377,000. PAGE <2> SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized. NICHOLAS FINANCIAL, INC. (Registrant) Date: May 6, 2004 /s/ Peter L. Vosotas Peter L. Vosotas Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) Date: May 6, 2004 /s/ Ralph T. Finkenbrink Ralph T. Finkenbrink (Principal Financial Officer and Accounting Officer) 3 Exhibit Index Exhibit Description 1 Press release dated May 6, 2004, announcing earnings for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2004. 4 Exhibit 1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nicholas Financial, Inc. Corporate Headquarters 2454 McMullen-Booth Rd. Building C, Suite 501 Clearwater, FL 33759 Contact: Ralph Finkenbrink Sr. Vice President, CFO NASDAQ: NICK Web site: www.nicholasfinancial.com Ph #: 727-726-0763 Nicholas Financial Reports Record Results for the 4th Quarter & the Year Ended March 31, 2004 MAY 6, 2004 - Clearwater, Florida - Nicholas Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq, NICK), announced that net income for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2004 increased 24% to $1,491,772 as compared to $1,202,908 in the fourth quarter last year. Earnings per share increased 17% to $0.27 from $0.23. Revenue for the quarter increased 14% to $6,910,000 from $6,047,000. The Company has reported same quarter record increases in revenues and earnings in 54 out of the past 55 quarters. For the year ended March 31, 2004, net income increased 22% to $5,212,678 as compared to $4,281,394 last year. Earnings per share increased 19% to $0.96 from $0.81. Revenue for the year increased 14% to $25,500,000 from $22,377,000. The Company has reported record increases in revenues and earnings every year for the past 13 years. Founded in 1985, with assets of $103,223,000 as of March 31, 2004, Nicholas Financial is one of the largest publicly traded specialty consumer finance companies based in the Southeast. The Company presently operates out of 32 branch locations in both the Southeast and the Mid-West States. The Company has approximately 5,100,000 shares of common stock outstanding. For an index of Nicholas Financial Inc.'s news releases or to obtain a specific release, visit our web site at www.nicholasfinancial.com. --------------------------------------------------------------- Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including competitive factors, the management of growth, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings and reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2003. Such statements are based on the beliefs of the Company's management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Company management. Actual events or results may differ materially. --------------------------------------------------------------- ## Over ## 5 Nicholas Financial, Inc. Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited, Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) Three Months Ended Year Ended March 31, March 31, 2004 2003 2004 2003 -------------------------------------- Revenue: Finance charge income $ 6,839 $ 5,973 $ 25,236 $ 22,049 Other income 71 74 264 328 -------------------------------------- 6,910 6,047 25,500 22,377 Costs and expenses: Operating expenses 2,970 2,606 11,060 9,390 Provision for losses 581 536 2,198 2,214 Interest expense 946 980 3,852 3,936 --------------------------------------- 4,497 4,122 17,110 15,540 --------------------------------------- Income before income taxes 2,413 1,925 8,390 6,837 Income tax provision 921 722 3,177 2,556 --------------------------------------- Net income $ 1,492 $ 1,203 $ 5,213 $ 4,281 ======================================= Earnings per share: Basic $0.29 $0.24 $1.03 $0.86 ======================================= Diluted $0.27 $0.23 $0.96 $0.81 ======================================= Weighted average shares 5,078,411 5,002,810 5,047,094 5,004,055 Numerator for dilutive earnings per share- income available to common stockholders after assumed conversions $1,492 $1,203 $5,213 $4,281 Weighted average shares and assumed dilution 5,469,045 5,260,590 5,418,708 5,299,206 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited, Dollars in Thousands) March 31, March 31, 2004 2003 ----------- ------------ Cash $ 957 $ 481 Finance receivables, net 97,237 86,178 Other assets 5,029 3,378 -------- -------- Total assets $103,223 $ 90,037 ======== ======== Line of credit $ 67,510 $ 60,160 Other notes payable 682 809 Other liabilities 7,622 6,978 -------- ------- Total liabilities 75,814 67,947 Shareholders' equity 27,409 22,090 -------- ------- Total liabilities and Shareholders' equity $ 103,223 $ 90,037 ========= ======== # # End # #